ROTIFER A 



101 



in the case of the common P. repens, to the leaves of water- 

 plants (Fig. 57). 



Fig. 55. — Cristatella mucedo. Entire Colony. (After Allman, from 

 Parker and Haswell.) 



Fig. 56. — Lophopus crystallinus, whole Fig. 57. — Plumatella repens, on a 

 colony ( X 2). (From the Cambridge pieoeof water-lily leaf (nat. size). 

 Natural History. ) (From the Cambridge Natural 



Histm-y. ) 



PHYLUM IX.: EOTIFERA 



Wheel Animalcules 



Rotifers are microscopic but multicellular forms, very 

 abundant in ponds and ditches. The general appearance 

 of four of them is shown in Fig. 58. 



They are bilaterally symmetrical, and each has a curious 

 ciliated disc on the head, and, at the opposite end of the body. 



